Mechanism for winding knitted fabric in circular knitting machines and for removing rolls of the knitted fabric

ABSTRACT

In a circular knitting machine the tube of knitted fabric produced is wound flat onto a rotatably driven shaft supported at its two ends by bearings. One of the bearings can be moved to free the end of the shaft, such one bearing forming part of a receiving drawer for a cut-off roll of fabric. Operation of a fabric cutting device unlocks the drawer which can be slid axially of the shaft to remove the fabric roll from the shaft and outside of the frame of the machine. Fabric gripping members on the shaft are arranged to windably engage and take up the free end of the knitted fabric, but allow the roll of fabric to slide axially along the shaft for removal.

United States Patent [191 Bourgeois MECHANISM FOR WINDING KNITTED FABRICIN CIRCULAR KNITTING MACNES AND FOR REMOVING ROLLS OI 'IIIE KNITTEDFABRIC Inventor: Norbert Paul Bourgeois, Troyes,

France Assignee: Etudes et Bonneterie 8A.,

Lausanne, Switzerland Filed: Nov. 30, 1972 Appl. No.: 310,710

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 30, 1971 Switzerland 17430/71 US.Cl. ..'66/l5l, 242/551 Int. Cl D04b 15/88 Field of Search 66/151, 147,149.2;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Cadorette et al. 139/304 Lebocey66/149 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 130,145 3/1959 U.S.S.R 66/151795,368 5/1958 Great Britain 66/151 480,469 12/1969 Switzerland 139/1 RPrimary Examiner-W. C. Reynolds Assistant Examiner-A. M. Falik Attorney,Agent, or Firm--Wende roth, Lind & Ponack 57 ABSTRACT In a circularknitting machine the tube of knitted fabric produced is wound flat ontoa rotatably driven shaft supported at its two ends by bearings. One ofthe bearings can bemoved to free the end of the shaft,

such one bearing forming part of a receiving drawer for a cut-off rollof fabric. Operation of a fabric cutting device unlocks the drawer whichcan be slid axially of the shaft to remove the fabric roll from theshaft and outside of the frame of the machine. Fabric gripping memberson the shaft are arranged to windably engage and take up the free end ofthe knitted fabric, but allow the roll of fabric to slide axially alongthe shaft for removal.

II Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PMENIE EIU 8074 saw 1 or 7 um 8W4 PMENIEDsum 1 n1 7 Fig 72 MECHANISM FO WINDING KNITTED FABRIC IN CIRCULARKNITTING MACHINES AND FOR REMOVING ROLLS OF THE KNITTED FABRICBACKGROUND OF TI-IE INVENTION This invention concerns mechanisms forwinding knitted fabric in circular knitting machines and for removingrolls of the knitted fabric.

It is known, on most circular knitting machines, to roll the tube ofknitted fabric formed by the knitting members flat by means of 'amechanism including a driven winding shaft the rotational speed of whichis made dependent on variations in the diameter of the roll of knittedfabric.

This driven shaft, generally located below the conventional fabric drawoff device, is supported at its ends by a support on which it isremovably mounted. Each time that the roll of fabric reaches a certaindiameter, the operator who has to remove it must, after havingtransversely cut the knitted fabric, free the winding shaft from its twoend bearings so asto be able to lift the assembly out of the knittingmachine frame.

The high production rates due to the increase in the number of knittingstations in present-day machines, and the required improvements in theexpected service of such machines, require the provision of windingmeans having a large winding capacity.

It thus becomes difficult if not impossible for the op erator to carryout the various removal operations single handed, and these operationsprove to be particularly arduous since access into the knitting machineframe is not always easy, particularly in circular knitting machineswith rotary needle-carrying beds in which the assembly of the fabricdraw off and winding mechanism is also rotary which implies theprovision about the base of the machine of multiple protective andsafety elements, usually of a bulky nature.

To palliate this difficulty it has already been envisaged to make theends of the winding shaft rest on two supports which are open at theirupper parts, the assembly of the shaft and roll of fabric beingvertically movable so that it can be removed from the-supports and fallinto a receiving carriage which facilitates transfer thereof out of theknitting machine frame.

Although this expedient enables a reduction of the operators efforts,certain manoeuvres still have to be carried out, notably cutting of thefabric and removal of the winding shaft which is firmly held at thecentre of the roll and is not always easy to manually remove. Also, theuse of such open supports is practically incompatible with a control ofthe rotation of the winding shaft, which can only be carried out by atangential drive on the roll of fabric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to remedy thesedrawbacks.

According to the invention, there is provided a mechanism for windingknitted fabric in a circular knitting machine and removing the woundknitted fabric from the knitting machine, in which knitted fabric formedby knitting members of the machine is wound flat on a rotary shaftrotated by driving means and supported at its ends by a support disposedinside a frame of the machine. The mechanism includes a fabric cuttingdevice, means for gripping knitted fabric remaining on the machine,means for freeing one of the ends of the rotary shaft from its support,a mobile pushing member for exerting an axial push on a roll-of .knittedfabric on, the rotary shaft towards the free end of the shaft, means foroperating the means for freeing the end of the rotary shaft and forcontrolling movement of the mobile pushing member to axially remove theroll of knitted fabric from the rotary shaft and enable its removal fromthe frame of the machine without a need for manual handling of the rollof fabric, and a mobile fabric guide cooperating with the rotary shafton which the knitted fabric is wound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying schematic drawingsshow, by way of example, an embodiment of a mechanism according to theinvention as well as different constructional details. lnthe drawings:

FIG. I is a view in axial cross-section of the lower part of a circularknitting machine with a rotary needle cylinder showing, in a simplifiedmanner, a fabric winding and removal mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly in cross-section taken along line A-A ofFIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a simplified elevational view of the mechanism of FIGS. I and2, showing various structural details including manual means for movingcertain parts of the mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line lB-B of FIG.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are partial views on an enlarged scale; respectively anelevational view, a side crosssection and a plan view; showing in detailother structural elements, including alternative means moving certainparts of the mechanism shown in FIGS. I to 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged scale elevational viwe of a part of the mechanismof FIGS. I to 4, showing other strucutral elements, and moreparticularly showing constructional details of a part of the mechanismcontrolling winding of the knitted fabric;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section taken along line C-C of FIG. 8; i

FIG. I0 is a top plan view of a detail of one of the members of thecontrol mechanism of FIG. 8;

FIG. II is a perspective view of the control mechanism;

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing control elements; and

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram of the control elements of FIG. I2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to these Figures, thelower part of a frame of the circular knitting machine shown in FIGS. land 2 comprises a base I on which are fixed three equidistant feet 2adapted to support an upper part 3 of the frame which carries the rotaryelements such as the needle cylinder adapted to carry out the knitting,and the stationary elements associated therewith as well as thesuperstructural assembly of the machine.

The base ll also supports a toothed crown 4 driven in synchronizationwith the other rotary elements, the means for driving and controllingthese different elements not being shown.

The fabric draw off and winding mechanism (FIGS. 1 to 4) is carried on aU-shaped support 5 rigidly fixed by its base onto the rotary crown 4,and having two vertical side plates 6 and 7 whose upper parts formbearings for the respective ends of three fabric draw off rollers 8, 9,10 disposed in the same plane, parallel to one another and diametricalof the rotary crown 4.

These three rollers 8, 9, 10 are rotatably driven upon rotation of thecrown 4 by means of bevel pinion 11 mounted at the end of the centralroller 9 and meshing with a second bevel pinion l2 integral with avertical shaft 13 whose lower end carries a chainwheel 14 connected by achain 15 to a second wheel 16 mounted about a pivot 17 of base 1.Regulation of the speed of driving can be carried out by means of afriction device 18 or by other appropriate means. This part of themechanism which does not directly fall within the scope of the inventionwill not be further described in detail.

The drive of the two lateral rollers 8 and 111 takes place in theopposite direction of rotation to that of central roller 9, by means ofa gear train 19 at the end opposite bevel pinion 11.

Below and spaced apart from the draw off rollers 8, 9, 10, the plate 6of U-shaped support 5 serves as a bearing for one of the ends of acylindrical shaft 20 for winding the knitted fabric, rotated by means ofa friction device 21, the mobile part of the latter being driven by achainwheel 22 connected by a chain 23 to a second chainwheel 24 keyed onthe end of one of the draw off rollers.

A second support 25, also U-shaped, is movably mounted in relation tothe support 5 along a direction parallel to the axis of shaft 20, andable to pass through an opening 26 provided in plate 7. On one of thecheeks 27 of this mobile support is fixed a pivot 28 which serves as abearing for an end of shaft 20, whilst the other cheek 29, locatedadjacent to plate 6 of sup port 5, includes a circular opening enablingit to slide axially on shaft 20.

The bottom 30 connecting the two cheeks 27 and 29 of support 25 islocated below and spaced apart from the shaft 20 and has a dish-liketransversal crosssection, the assembly of support 25 forming a drawerwhich can be moved by means of two series of rollers 31 rotatablymounted on the support 25 and moving along two lateral slideways 32, 33of support 5 (FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 4, the tube of knitted fabric 34 formed by the knittingmembers of the machine is driven by passing between the three draw-offrollers 8, 9 and 10 and then rolled fiat in the form of a roll 35 on therotary shaft 20.

To carry out removal of the rolled fabric 35 it suffices, after havingtransversally cut the fabric 34, to slide out the drawer 25 thus freeingthe end 36 of shaft 20 and axially moving the roll 35 of fabrictherealong by a push exerted on its ends 350 by cheek 29.

As indicated in broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, as soon as the roll 35 offabric is entirely removed from the shaft 20, it falls onto the bottom30 of the receiving drawer 25; at this moment, the roll 35 is positionedaway from the mechanism and practically outside the frame of themachine, so that it can easily be taken hold of.

On FIG. 1, a rotary roller 87 for supporting the drawer 25 during itsmovement is shown; this arrangemnt could alternatively be replaced byextensible slideways, not shown. j

FIGS. 3 and 4 additionally show one possible means for controllingmovement of the sliding drawer 25 and one form of device fortransversally cutting the fabric 34.

The base of support 5 is provided at its ends with protruding parts 37,38 (FIG. 3) on which are mounted two chainwheels 39, 40connectedtogether by a chain 41 one link of which is attached to thebottom 30 of drawer 25 by means of a pin 42. Drive of the chain 41 takesplace by means of a third wheel 43 mounted on a lateral shoulder 44 ofsupport 5 and keyed to the lower end of a vertical shaft 45, held at itsupper end by a shoulder 46 of a cross piece 47 connecting the upperparts of the two vertical plates 6 and 7.

At the ends of cross piece 47 are mounted two other chainwheels 48, 49connected together by a chain 50 one link of which is attached by meansof a pin 51 to a fabric cutting device 52 which will be described indetail further on.

By introducing schematically shown cranks 53,54 into respective recessesprovided in the upper endof the vertical shaft 45 and in the shaft 55 ofone of chainwheels 48 and rotating these cranks, it is possible to move,in either direction, both the sliding drawer 25 and the cutting device52.

In FIGS. 5 to 7, a mode of automatic locking and unlocking the slidingdrawer 25 on support 5 is more particularly shown.

On a threaded part of shaft 55 of chainwheel 48 controlling movement ofthe fabric cutting device 52 is dis posed a nut 56 including a slot 57in which is inserted an end 58 ofa pivoted two-armed lever 59. The otherend 60 of lever 59 is disposed on the other side of vertical plate 6andcontrols, by means of a rod 61, the movement of a lever 62 which ispivotally mounted on a shaft 63 fixed on the other side of verticalplate 6 and is submitted to the action of a tension spring 64.

In a groove of a support 65 fixed on the outer face of cheek 29 ofsliding drawer 25 is pivotally mounted a lock 66. Each time that thedrawer 25 is placed in the position corresponding to winding of thefabric, i.e. the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1.in which pivot28 serves as a bearing for the end of the rotary shaft 20, the support65 passes through an opening 67 provided in the vertical plate 6 and thelock 66, urged by a compression spring 68, engages behind a fixed stop69 integral with vertical plate 6. The support 65 is moreover disposedon the cheek 29 so that the lock 66 is placed inthe path of movement oflever 62 which, under the action of spring 64, is normally held down andmaintains the end 58 of lever 59 against the bottom of the slot 57 ofnut 56, which prevents any rotation of the latter.

The position of the fabric cutting device 52 on chain 50 as well as thepitch of nut 56 and of the threaded part of shaft 55 are such that eachtime the device 52 carries out a transversal cut of the fabric 34 in thedirection of the arrow (FIG. 7), at the end of the path the axialdisplacement of nut 56 due to rotation of shaft 55 lifts up lever 62 andthe lock 66 by an amount sufficient to unlock the drawer 25.

After having removed a roll 35 of fabric by moving the drawer 25, itsuffices to return the drawer 25 and the fabric cutting device 52 totheir initial positions, and the drawer 25 will once more lockautomatically.

The fabric cutting device 52 (FIGS. 5 and a) comprises a driving support70 connected to the control chain 50 and slidably mounted parallel tothe winding shaft 20 on a rack 7I. The cutting member proper is formedby a sharp edged disc 72 rotating with a pinion 73 meshing with the rack7I, the fabric 34 being guided towards the disc 72 by an inclined plane741 provided on the support 7th and carrying out the function of a fixedknife.

FIGS. 5 to 7 also show a variation of the means for moving the drawer 25and the fabric cutting device 52, the chain II which drives the drawer25 and the chain 50 which drives the fabric cutting device 52 beingrespectively driven by reversible electric motors 75, 76.

The supply of the driving motor '75 of drawer 75 of drawer 25 iscontrolled from the cutting device 52 and, to allow the removal of aroll of knitted fabric, avoiding any risk of error of manipulation, thecurrent supply to the two motors 75 and 76 can be effected only when thewinding mechanism is oriented to allow the drawer 25 to be displacedoutwards of the knitting machine, as shown in FIG. 2. In this positionthe drawer 25 can slide between two legs 2 of the fixed frame, contactmeans being provided on the frame to cut off the current supply of themain driving motor(s) of the knitting machine when auxiliary motors 75and 76 are supplied with current.

A preferred embodiment containing the abovementioned features is shownin FIGS. I2 and I3.

FIG. I2 illustrates schematically the main elements shown in FIG. 2; inthis figure the same reference characters are used as in FIG. 2; for thesame components.

The main driving motor IIII of the knitting machine is supported by oneof the three legs 2 at the base of which are disposed two switches MP2and IIIEI respectively provided for controlling the slowing of the speedof the frame, either by restricting the speed of motor IIII, or byswitching a low speed auxiliary motor (not shown), and to stop themtor(s) thus stopping the knitting machine. The successive actuating ofthe two switches W2 and I03 is effected by means of a cam I614 disposedon the rotating toothed crown I which supports the mechanism, so thatdrawer 25 can be displaced between the other two legs 2 of the frame.The circuit of switches I02, I03 is controlled by a third switch I05which is also fixed to a leg 2 of the frame and can be controlled by theuser. SWitch W3 is also provided to supply current through a relay, aplug ItIo connectable manually to a casing I07 disposed on the windingmechanism and provide, as described hereunder, to control the currentsupply of the two driving motors 75, '76 respectively of the drawer 25and of the knitted fabric cutting device 52.

Two microswitches I09, IIII are fixed on the rotating crown and aredisposed on the path of cams III, I112 fixed to the cheeks 27, 29. Saidmicroswitches corre spond respectively to the start and the end of thedisplacement of the drawer 25, whereas two other microswitches II3, IMare fixed inside the side plates 6, 7 and determine when contacting thedriving support member 70, the end and the start of the stroke of thecutting device 52. The casing I07 comprises three relays R R R which canbe actuated by two control buttons II5, I16 corresponding respectivelyto the pulling out of the drawer 25 and its return to the initialposition. Electrical connections between motors 75, 7th to these variouselements are shown in FIG. 113 where the knitting machine is in action,before the removal of the roll of knitted fabric.

To control the automatic removal of a roll of knitted fabric out of theframe, the user first actuates switches IIIZ, I03, and cam MM stops theknitting machine as it passes, and the winding mechanism is in theposition shown in FIG. I2. The user connects plug IIIb to the casingIIW, said plug receiving current only when the mechanism is in thisposition.

FIG. I3 shows that in addition to the-four pins provided for the supplyof the current to motors 75, 76, two other pins are providedrespectively for supplying the low voltage current of the relays R R Rthrough the microswitches controlled by buttons I115, I116. Such twoother pins are provided for closing the excitation circuit of a relay Rdisposed in the supply circuit of the main motor IIII, so as to preventany current to the latter when switch III 6 is connected to the casing.Relay R is a part of the general current supply circuit of the knittingmachine (not shown).

By pushing button IIS, the relay R, is excited, the contacts r arereleased and said relay R supply current to the motor 76 of the cuttingdevice 52. The latter, when it moves transversally, connectsmicroswitches II l, II3 respectively at the start and the end of itsdisplacement. Switching on of the microswitch I13 excites relay R whichcontrols an assembly of contacts r for controlling the current of motors'75, 76, and the motor 75, which in turn receives a current, drives thedrawer 25, while the roll of knitted fabric slides axially on thewinding shaft 2%, as shown in FiG. I2.

The position of microswitches I09, III), respectively for the start andthe end of the displacement of the drawer 25, is modified during thelatter's displacement by the actionof corresponding cams III, III.Microswitch IIII releases relays R R which act upon contacts r rassociated therewith. The cut off of current supply to motor follows,and consequently the drawer 25 is stopped, whereas the assembly ofcontacts r return to their initial position.

In this position of the drawer- 25, the user may proceed with theremoval of the knitted fabric roll, and to control the return of thedrawer he only has to push button no. The result of this last operationis the excitement of relays R R contacts r reversing two of the phasesof the three phases current, and the next switching of the assembly ofcontacts r providing the supply of current to motor '75 only to controlthe displacement in the reverse direction of drawer 25. The latter stopsonly when earn III actuates the microswitch Mild to release relay R andthus stop the current to motor 75, supplying said current to motor 76which will bring back the cutting device 52 to its original position.The action of support 7% on microswitch Illd thus, at the end of thedisplacement, releases relay 1R which by actuating contacts r stops thecurrent to the two motors '75, '76.

When the user disconnects plug MM, relay R, is released and thus currentcan be supplied to the main motor IIII for controlling the operation ofthe knitting machine and the manufacture of a new roll of knittedfabric.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the means for controlling wind ing of the knittedfabric.

A flap 77 extending across the width of the wound fabric 34 is fixed ona pivotal shaft 78 supported at its ends by the plates 6 and 7 of themain support 5. A traction spring 79 held, on the one hand, on an end ofa two armed lever 80 fixed on an extension of shaft '78 and, on theother hand, connected to a lever 811 of the friction device 21 tends toconstantly apply the lower part of flap 77 towards the winding shaft 20.

Along a longitudinal channel of shaft are mounted several grippers 82having pointed ends 83 directed in the direction of rotation of theshaft. After removal of a roll 35 of fabric and as soon as the knittingmachine starts up again, the edge of the fabric 34 previously cut by thecutting device 52 slides over the inner face 84 of flap 77 and is thenengaged and driven by the grippers 82 which enable winding of the fabriconto shaft 20.

As indicated in FIG. 8, the grippers 82 are also inclined in relation tothe longitudinal direction of shaft 20 in a manner such that theirpointed ends 83 are oriented in the direction of movement of the drawerduring removal, thus enabling the roll of fabric to slide over shaft 20at the moment of removal. This result could alternatively be obtained bypivotally mounting the grippers 82 on the rotary shaft 20 in a mannersuch that these grippers can pivot in the direction of axial movement ofa roll 35 of fabric when a push is exerted thereon by the roll 35 offabric during removal.

The second end of two armed lever 8(1) is also adapted to come intocontact with a shoulder 85 of the nut 56 controlling unlocking of thedrawer 25. As indicated in broken lines in the left of FIG. 9, thisarrangement enables the flap 77 to be moved out of the path of cheek 29of drawer 25 as soon as the fabric 34 has been cut by the device 52.

The friction device 21 controlling rotation of the shaft 20 from thefabric draw off rollers is shown in detail in FIG. 8.

The wheel 22 driven by chain 23 is fixed on driving plate 86 freelyturning on the end of shaft 20 by means of a ball bearing, whilst anadjustable driven assembly 88 is keyed on the shaft 20. Adjustmentthereof takes place, via a ball joint 89, from an axial movement of arotating sleeve 90 centred on a shouldered part of a bearing 91 fixed onthe vertical plate 6 and supporting the end of shaft 20 by means of aball bearing 92.

The facing faces 93, 94 of rotating sleeve 90 and bearing 91 includeprotruding parts 95, 96 respectively, as shown on the partial plan viewof FIG. 10, and which have inclined complementary surfaces 97, 98. Lever81 connected, as previously described, by a spring '79 to the end ofpivoting lever 80, is fixed on a shoulder of sleeve 90. As the fabric 34winds onto the shaft 20, the diameter of the roll 35 increases andcauses the flap 77 to pivot. The tension of spring 79 thus increases andas a result the two inclined surfaces 97, 98 slide over one another,which causes a slight axial movement of sleeve 90 which, via the balljoint 89, increases the pressure exerted by the assembly 88 on thedriving plate 86. This arrangement insures a constant tension on thefabric as it is wound and while the inertia of the fabric roll 35increases due to an increase in diameter thereof.

The described mechanism notably facilitates the work of the operator whois no longer required to manually act on the knitted fabric, either toensure its winding or its removal from the knitting machine frame.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanism for winding knitted fabric in a circular knitting machineand removing the wound knitted fabric from the knitting machine, inwhich knitted fabric is wound flat on a rotary shaft rotated by drivingmeans and supported at its ends by a support disposed inside of theframe of the machine:

wherein said support comprises at least one movable part forming bearingmeans for supporting one of the ends of said rotary shaft with saidbearing means being releasably mounted with respect to one shaft end forfreeing said end when said movable part is displaced; and

wherein said mechanism further comprises a fabric cutting device;

means for gripping-the knitted fabric remaining on the machine after acutting operation by said cutting device;

a movable pushing member for exerting an axial push on a roll of knittedfabric on said rotary shaft towards said bearing means;

means for driving said pushing member to axially remove said roll ofknitted fabric from said rotary shaft when said one end of said rotaryshaft is freed and for removing said fabric roll from said knittingmachine without manual handling of said fabric roll; and

a mobile fabric guide cooperating with said rotary shaft on which theknitted fabric is wound.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, in which said movable part of saidsupport and said movable pushing member are interconnected by at leastone joining element and operated by said driving means, the assembly ofsaid movable part, said movable pushing member and said joining elementbeing movable parallel to the axis of said rotary shaft.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2, in which at least one part of saidjoining element is disposed below said roll of knitted fabric when onsaid rotary shaft, said at least one part of said joining element havinga con cave transversal cross-section for receiving said roll whenremoved from said rotary shaft.

4. A mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising means for movingsaid cutting device parallel to said axis'of said rotary shaft, a stop,locking means cooperating with said stop for locking said assembly onsaid support in a position in which said rotary shaft is held by itsends to allow the winding of knitted fabric thereon, and meanscontrolled by said means for moving said cutting device for acting onsaid locking means to free said assembly after said cutting device hastransversally cut the knitted fabric.

5. A mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising means formanually moving said cutting device parallel to said axis of said shaft,and means for manually moving said assembly.

6. A mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising a firstreversible electric motor for moving said cutting device parallel tosaid axis of said shaft, and a second electric motor for moving saidassembly.

7. A mechanism according to claim 6, which is mounted for rotation withthe principal rotary members of said knitting machine, and furthercomprising a principal motor for driving said principal rotary membersof said knitting machine, and means disposed on a stationary part ofsaid knitting machine for actuating said first and second motors, saidactuating means including means for switching off said principal motorwhen said first and second motors are both switched on.

8. A mechanism according to claim 1, in which said rotary shaft isdisposed in a lower part of said knitting machine below the knittingmembers thereof, said fabric gripping means including a series ofgripping members disposed along at least a part of the length of saidrotary shaft, said gripping members having pointed ends directed inrelation to the direction of rotation of said rotary shaft so astowindably engage with a free end of the knitted fabric, and furthercomprising means for elastically urging said mobile fabric guide towardssaid rotary shaft, and guide forming means for directing the said freeend of said knitted fabric to be wound towards said rotary shaft so asto engage with said gripping members.

9. A mechanism according to claim 8, in which said rotary shaft has achannel in which said gripping members are disposed inclined in relationto said axis of said rotary shaft with said pointed ends thereoforiented in the direction of axial movement of said roll of fabric.

movement of said mobile fabric guide.

' l l =l

1. A mechanism for winding knitted fabric in a circular knitting machineand removing the wound knitted fabric from the knitting machine, inwhich knitted fabric is wound flat on a rotary shaft rotated by drivingmeans and supported at its ends by a support disposed inside of theframe of the machine: wherein said support comprises at least onemovable part forming bearing means for supporting one of the ends ofsaid rotary shaft with said bearing means being releasably mounted withrespect to one shaft end for freeing said end when said movable part isdisplaced; and wherein said mechanism further comprises a fabric cuttingdevice; means for gripping the knitted fabric remaining on the machineafter a cutting operation by said cutting device; a movable pushingmember for exerting an axial push on a roll of knitted fabric on saidrotary shaft towards said bearing means; means for driving said pushingmember to axially remove said roll of knitted fabric from said rotaryshaft when said one end of said rotary shaft is freed and for removingsaid fabric roll from said knitting machine without manual handling ofsaid fabric roll; and a mobile fabric guide cooperating with said rotaryshaft on which the knitted fabric is wound.
 2. A mechanism according toclaim 1, in which said movable part of said support and said movablepushing member are interconnected by at least one joining element andoperated by said driving means, the assembly of said movable part, saidmovable pushing member and said joining element being movable parallelto the axis of said rotary shaft.
 3. A mechanism according to claim 2,in which at least one part of said joining element is disposed belowsaid roll of knitted fabric when on said rotary shaft, said at least onepart of said joining element having a concave transversal cross-sectionfor receiving said roll when removed from said rotary shaft.
 4. Amechanism according to claim 2, further comprising means for moving saidcutting device parallel to said axis of said rotary shaft, a stop,locking means cooperating with said stop for locking said assembly onsaid support in a position in which said rotary shaft is held by itsends to allow the winding of knitted fabric thereon, and meanscontrolled by said means for moving said cutting device for acting onsaid locking means to free said assembly after said cutting device hastransversally cut the knitted fabric.
 5. A mechanism according to claim2, further comprising means for manually moving said cutting deviceparallel to said axis of said shaft, and means for manually moving saidassembly.
 6. A mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising afirst reversible electric motor for moving said cutting device parallelto said axis of said shaft, and a second electric motor for moving saidassembly.
 7. A mechanism according to claim 6, which is mounted forrotation with the principal rotary members of said knitting machine, andfurther comprising a principal motor for driving said principal rotarymembers of said knitting machine, and means disposed on a stationarypart of said knitting machine for actuating said first and secondmotors, said actuating means including means for switching off saidprincipal motor when said first and second motors are both switched on.8. A mechanism according to claim 1, in which said rotary shaft isdisposed in a lower part of said knitting machiNe below the knittingmembers thereof, said fabric gripping means including a series ofgripping members disposed along at least a part of the length of saidrotary shaft, said gripping members having pointed ends directed inrelation to the direction of rotation of said rotary shaft so as towindably engage with a free end of the knitted fabric, and furthercomprising means for elastically urging said mobile fabric guide towardssaid rotary shaft, and guide forming means for directing the said freeend of said knitted fabric to be wound towards said rotary shaft so asto engage with said gripping members.
 9. A mechanism according to claim8, in which said rotary shaft has a channel in which said grippingmembers are disposed inclined in relation to said axis of said rotaryshaft with said pointed ends thereof oriented in the direction of axialmovement of said roll of fabric.
 10. A mechanism according to claim 8,in which said gripping members are pivotally mounted on said rotaryshaft and are pivotable in the direction of axial movement of said rollof fabric when said roll is axially pushed.
 11. A mechanism according toclaim 8, further comprising a friction device disposed between saidrotary shaft and said means for driving said rotary shaft, and means foradjusting said friction device as a function of movement of said mobilefabric guide.